Taiwan officially has opened Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation and Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian gave the inaugural speech.

The president said that his government will no longer treat Tibetan and Mongolian exiles like they are citizens of China. Mr. Tashi Wangdi, a former minister, represented the Tibetan government-in-exile and read a letter by the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan leader said in his letter that he hoped the new Tibetan Office will help “strengthen the bond” between Taiwanese and Tibetans. The foundation will take over relations with the Tibetan government-in-exile from the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, which will be slowly abolished.